Needle protecting cap and needle disposal instrument

ABSTRACT

A needle protecting cap ( 10 ) formed of a cylindrical body ( 11 ) having an insertion port ( 12 ) for an injection needle at one end thereof and capable of holding the injection needle, wherein a slit ( 15 ) is formed from the distal end of an insertion notch ( 13 ), which has been formed by longitudinally cutting a peripheral wall ( 11   a ) inclusive of the insertion port ( 12 ) from the side of the insertion port toward the distal end thereof, toward the other end of the cylindrical body; and a needle disposal instrument ( 60 ) equipped with a case body ( 61 ) that accommodates a plurality of the needle protecting caps ( 10 ) and holds the needle protecting caps ( 10 ) in such a posture that used injection needles can be inserted from the insertion port ( 12 ), and an open/close cover ( 62 ) for preventing the needle protecting caps attached to the case body ( 61 ) from falling out. The needle protecting cap ( 10 ) and the needle disposal instrument ( 60 ) permit disposal of a winged needle ( 51 ) as well as an ordinary injection needle ( 50 ), and also permit efficient disposal of a large quantity of injection needles.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a needle protecting cap and a needledisposal instrument that enable used injection needles to be safelydisposed of without a risk of inadvertent piercing of fingers or thelike.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, “accidental needle piercing” in which doctors or nursesinadvertently pierce their fingers or the like with injection needlesafter used for patients has become an issue. In fact, a few thousand ofsuch accidents have been reported all over Japan. The accidental needlepiercing develops into serious incidents that put the lives of doctorsor nurses at risk if the needles have been used for patients infected byAIDS (HIVE), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or the like.

Accidental needle piercing most frequently takes place when disposing ofused injection needles. Generally, in order to avoid risks caused bydisposing of naked injection needles, protecting caps are used to coverdistal ends of the injection needles before discarding them.

The protecting caps, however, have small diameters ranging from a fewmillimeters up to about 10 mm, depending on injection needles for whichthe caps are used. Hence, when attaching the cap to the needle byinserting a distal end of the needle in an aperture formed in one end ofthe cap, the distal end frequently fails to be properly inserted intothe small aperture, causing the distal end to pierce a finger holdingthe protecting cap.

To solve such a problem, various kinds of needle protecting caps orassociated instruments thereof have been proposed as disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-76873, Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No. 6-121836, Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNo. 6-154325, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-275360,Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-89573, Japanese UnexaminedUtility Model Publication No. 60-187735, etc.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-76873 discloses a needleprotecting cap provided with a guard at the end thereof. With thisarrangement, if an injection needle misses an insertion port wheninserting the needle in the protecting cap, fingers holding theprotecting cap are protected by the guard.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-121836 discloses a needleprotecting cap provided with a lever making use of an action of a leveror a wedge. The lever is held when inserting a needle into the cap so asto keep a distance between the needle and a finger tip, making itpossible to prevent accidents of fingers touching the distal ends ofneedles or accidents of stabbing finger tips.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-89573 discloses a needleprotecting cap in which a part of its shank is provided with avertically split groove having a width to allow a needle end to beinserted. A needle is inserted in the protecting cap so that the entireneedle is dropped along the vertically split groove. With thisarrangement, the needle cannot be moved in a direction to pierce afinger, thus making it possible to prevent accidental needle piercing.

Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 60-187735 discloses aneedle guide groove formed in a side surface of a needle port section. Aside surface of the needle is applied to the needle guide groove andpulled away from a needle end to drop the needle end into an insertionport, and then the needle end is inserted in a main body portion. Thisarrangement makes it possible to prevent the needle end from missing theinsertion port at the time of attaching, thereby preventing accidents inwhich a hand or a finger is stabbed by the needle end.

Thus, diverse attempts have been made in the past to prevent accidentalneedle piercing, and have been effective in their own way in disposal ofordinary injection needles.

However, none of the protecting caps proposed in the publicationsdescribed above are suitable for disposal of winged injection needles,although they are suitable for disposal of ordinary injection needles inwhich the caps are attached to the distal ends of the needle mainbodies.

The winged needles are mainly used for drip, and has a pair ofbutterfly-shaped resilient wings provided on both sides of the needles.As injection can be implemented by holding the wings, it is no longernecessary to attach a needle to a syringe. This arrangement makes itpossible to reduce risks of infection and to enable secure fixation ofthe needle so as to allow stable drip in longer time.

In every one of the protecting caps set forth above, the protecting capmust be taken out for each needle to be disposed of and held by fingersto attach it to the needle. Especially in a large hospital wherehundreds of injection needles are used daily, the protecting caps areinconvenient for storage and inefficient and difficult in disposal whenthey are used in succession.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protecting cap thatpermits disposal of winged injection needles as well as ordinaryinjection needles, and to further provide a needle disposal instrumentthat permits efficient disposal of a large quantity of needles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A needle protecting cap in accordance with the present invention is aneedle protecting cap comprising a cylindrical body having an insertionport at one end thereof and is capable of holding an injection needle. Aperipheral wall inclusive of the insertion port is cut from the side ofthe insertion port toward the distal end to form a longitudinalelongated notch, and a slit is formed which extends from a distal end ofthe notch toward the other end of the cylindrical body, or a lockingportion for locking a winged needle which is oriented toward theinsertion port is formed at the distal end of the notch.

To use the protecting cap in accordance with the present invention foran ordinary syringe needle, the needle is set so that it issubstantially parallel to an upper part of the notch, and, in thisstate, the needle is moved in a direction at right angles to an axis ofthe protecting cap, and then inserted in the protecting cap from thenotch. The needle is further slid toward the distal end of theprotecting cap to install the needle in the protecting cap. In the caseof a winged needle, the needle is inserted from the notch and slidforward, and the wings are pinched in the slit to lock them or in thelocking portion to place the needle in the protecting cap.

Thus, the needle can be placed in the protecting cap without largelymoving the needle in its axial direction, thereby preventing accidentalfinger piercing with conventional protecting caps designed to be held byfingers. Moreover, the protecting cap also allows winged needles to beplaced in the cap as safely as in the case of ordinary needles, whichhas been impossible with the conventional protecting caps.

When a winged needle is locked by pinching it in the slit, a totallength of the notch and the slit of the protecting cap mentioned above,or a length of the notch for locking the winged needle by pinching it inthe locking portion, is preferably one third or more of a length of aneedle used. If the notch is excessively short for the length of theneedle, then the distal end of the needle tends to jut out of theprotecting cap when the needle is inserted into the notch and slidtoward the distal end of the cap.

The same materials used for the conventional protecting caps may be usedfor the protecting cap. Preferably, however, a resilient durablesynthetic resin is used for the slit portion or the locking portionformed at the distal end of the notch. In addition, it is preferable toform the slit and the locking portion by cutting a part of thecylindrical body of the protecting cap. This permits easy massproduction making use of conventional products.

Preferably, the slit for locking the winged needle formed so as toextend from the distal end of the notch to the other end of thecylindrical body and the locking portion for locking the winged needleformed at the distal end of the notch are provided with means forpreventing the winged needle from falling out. The means for preventingthe needle from falling out may be formed by mechanically knurling thesurface which contacts the winged needle, or by making the contactingsurface highly adhesive.

Furthermore, a slit which can be expanded in a direction in which theinsertion port spreads may be formed in the peripheral wall of theinsertion port. Forming such a slit enables an end portion of theinsertion port to resiliently spread, permitting easy insertion of aproximal end of a needle regardless of the size of the needle.

A ridge line of the peripheral wall defining an outer edge of thelongitudinal notch formed by cutting the peripheral wall inclusive ofthe insertion port from the side of the insertion port toward the distalend thereof may be shaped so as to form a narrow portion at theinsertion port. With this arrangement, an inserted needle can besecurely retained without a danger of falling out.

A needle disposal instrument in accordance with the present inventionthat includes the protecting cap set forth above and permits efficientuse of the needle protecting cap comprising the cylindrical body havingthe insertion port at one end thereof and capable of holding a needle isprovided with a case body that accommodates a plurality of needleprotecting caps, each of the caps being formed of a cylindrical bodyhaving an insertion port at one end thereof and capable of holding aneedle, and holds the needle protecting caps in such a posture that usedneedles can be inserted from the insertion ports, and further providedwith means for preventing the needle protecting caps attached to thecase body from falling out.

The means for preventing the falling out is preferably an open/closecover fitted to the case body on the side of the insertion ports for theneedle protecting caps accommodated in the case body. Installing theopen/close cover on the side of the insertion ports of the protectingcaps makes it possible to prevent the protecting caps from falling outand also to prevent needles placed in the protecting caps from fallingout.

In the needle disposal instrument in accordance with the presentinvention before use, a plurality of empty protecting caps areaccommodated in the case body, and the insertion ports of the protectingcaps are covered by the cover for preventing falling out. To use theneedle disposal instrument, the fall-out preventing cover is opened, anda needle is inserted from the insertion port of the protecting cap andsettled in the protecting cap. When all the accommodated protecting capsare filled with needles, the protecting caps are removed from the needledisposal instrument and placed in another container.

At this time, providing a handle at a position away from the positionwhere the open/close cover for preventing the case body from falling outis fit enables a needle to be settled in the protecting cap whileholding the handle by a hand. This also makes it possible to keep adistance between the needle and fingers holding the handle, contributingto the prevention of accidental needle piercing. In addition, providinga stand for the case body to support itself will securely preventaccidental needle piercing because a hand or fingers will not bepositioned in front of a needle when attaching it to the protecting cap.

The needle disposal instrument may be equipped with a case body whichaccommodates a plurality of needle protecting caps, the case bodymaintaining a posture of the accommodated needle protecting caps so thatnotches of the needle protecting caps are exposed for allowing usedinjection needles or winged needles to be inserted and having a removalport through which the needle protecting caps can be taken out one byone and urging means for urging the accommodated needle protecting capstoward the removal port.

In the above needle disposal instrument, the protecting caps installedin the needle disposal instrument are mounted on distal ends of ordinaryinjection needles or winged needles according to the procedure describedabove and then removed from the needle disposal instrument. With thisarrangement, the accommodated protecting caps are pushed out to theremoval port in sequence by the urging means, enabling the protectingcaps to be mounted onto the next injection needle or winged needle insequence.

Thus, the arrangement not only permits successive use, but also permitsan injection needle or a winged needle to be settled in the protectingcaps while holding the case body or the handle provided on the case bodyby a hand. Hence, the distance between the injection needle or thewinged needle and fingers holding the case body can be kept,contributing to the prevention of accidental needle piercing as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a needleprotecting cap in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2(a) is a sectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG. 1, and(b) and (c) show a state of an insertion port when an injection needlehas been inserted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation illustrating usage of the needleprotecting cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state wherein the protecting cap of FIG. 1has been attached to a winged needle.

FIG. 5 provides perspective views showing embodiments in which shapes ofan insertion port and an insertion notch of the protecting cap of FIG. 1have been changed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the needleprotecting cap in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation showing usage of the needleprotecting cap of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state wherein the protecting cap of FIG. 6has been attached to an injection needle.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state wherein the protecting cap of FIG. 6has been attached to a winged needle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a needledisposal instrument in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the needle disposal instrument ofFIG. 10 in use.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the needledisposal instrument in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the needle disposal instrument ofFIG. 12 in use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a needleprotecting cap in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is asectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG. 1, and (b) and (c) showa state of an insertion port after a needle is inserted.

A needle protecting cap 10 of the embodiment has an insertion notch 13in an upper surface of a tapered cylindrical body 11, the insertionnotch 13 being formed by longitudinally cutting a peripheral wall 11 a,which includes an insertion port 12, from the side of the insertion port12 toward a distal end of the cylindrical body. To permit easy insertionof an injection needle 50, the length of the insertion notch 13 is setto approximately 18% of the cylindrical body 11 in this embodiment.Further, as shown in (c) of FIG. 2, an end surface 11 c of the insertionport 12 is shaped like a hook.

This makes it possible to maintain the size of the insertion notch 13allowing easy insertion of the injection needle 50 through the insertionnotch 13, and, at the same time, to securely hold the injection needle50 by the end surface 11 c of the insertion port 12 without a danger offalling out.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a slit formed at a distal end of theinsertion notch 13 so that it extends toward a distal end of thecylindrical body 11. The cylindrical body 11 of this embodiment is madeof a synthetic resin so that the slit 14 is resilient, thus permittingwings of a winged needle to be pinched and locked by the slit 14. Inthis embodiment, to ensure easy insertion of the injection needle 50,the total length of the slit 14 and the insertion notch 13 is set toapproximately 37% of the cylindrical body 11. Reference numeral 15 shownin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2(b) denotes slits formed in the peripheral walladjacent to the insertion port 12. Forming the slits 15 allows an endadjacent to the insertion port 12 to be elastically expanded as shown inFIG. 2(b) so that a proximal end 50 a of the injection needle 50 can beeasily inserted regardless of the size of a needle.

To attach the needle 50 to the protecting cap 10, in the case of aneedle for an ordinary syringe, a needle 50 b of the injection needle 50is placed above the insertion notch 13, and in this state, the needle 50b is moved in a direction at right angle to an axis of the injectionneedle 50, inserted into the protecting cap 10 through the insertionnotch 13, and further slid toward the distal end of the protecting cap10 (in a direction indicated by an arrow B of FIG. 3) to thereby settlethe injection needle 50 in the protecting cap 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 2(b) and (c) are diagrams illustrating a state wherein theinjection needle 50 has been settled in the protecting cap 10. As shownin (b) of the drawing, even if the proximal end 50 a of the injectionneedle 50 is slightly larger, the slits 15 formed in the peripheral wallof the end on the side of the insertion port 12 of the cylindrical body11 spread to adjust to it. Moreover, since the end surface 11 c of theinsertion port 12 is shaped like a hook as illustrated in (c) of thedrawing, the proximal end 50 a of the injection needle 50 can beretained by the end surface 11 c to hold the injection needle 50 so asto prevent the needle 50 from falling out.

In the case of a winged needle 51, as shown in FIG. 4, a needle 51 b isinserted through the insertion notch 13 and slid forward, and a wingportion 51 a is held in the slit 14 so as to attach the winged needle 51to the protecting cap 10. The slit 14 is provided with a serratefall-out preventing portion 14 a to prevent the wing portion 51 a fromfalling out easily.

Thus, using the protecting cap 10 of the embodiment allows the ordinaryinjection needle 50 and the winged needle 51 to be attached to theprotecting cap 10 without largely moving the needles 50 b and 51 b indirections of the axes thereof.

FIG. 5 shows embodiments in which the shapes of the insertion port 12and the insertion notch 13 of the protecting cap 10 of FIG. 1 have beenchanged. FIG. 5(a) illustrates an embodiment in which a distal end of alocking portion 13 a formed by extending an outer edge of the slit 14 ismade thicker to form a narrow portion so as to prevent the injectionneedle 50 or the winged needle 51 from falling out easily. FIG. 5(b)illustrates an embodiment in which a gap at a distal end of a lockingportion 13 b formed by extending an outer edge of the slit 14 is madesmaller to form a narrow portion so as to prevent the injection needle50 or the winged needle 51 from falling out easily.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the needleprotecting cap in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 is aschematic representation showing usage of the needle protecting cap ofFIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state wherein an injection needlehas been attached to the protecting cap; and FIG. 9 is a diagram showinga state wherein a winged needle has been attached to the protecting cap.

A needle protecting cap 20 of this embodiment is formed by cutting apart of a conventional protecting cap, and has an insertion notch 23located in an upper surface of a tapered cylindrical body 21 and formedby longitudinally cutting a peripheral wall 21 a inclusive of aninsertion port 22 from the side of the insertion port 22 toward a distalend. In order to permit easy insertion of an injection needle, thelength of the insertion notch 23 has been set to 40% of the cylindricalbody 21 in this embodiment. A ridge line 21 b of the peripheral wall 21a defining an outer edge of the insertion notch 23 is made of a downwardcurve to form a narrow portion at the insertion port 22. Furthermore, asshown in a partial enlarged sectional view of the drawing, an endsurface 21 c of the insertion port 22 is shaped like a hook. With thisarrangement, the needle of the injection needle can be easily insertedthrough the insertion notch 23 while maintaining the size of theinsertion notch 23, and the injection needle can be securely retained bythe end surface 21 c of the cap insertion port 22 to prevent the needlefrom falling out.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a locking portion for locking a wingedneedle which is formed at a distal end of the insertion notch 23 andoriented toward the insertion port 22. In this embodiment, the lockingportion 24 is elastic, thereby enabling the wings of the winged needleto be held between the cylindrical body 21 and locking portion 24 tolock the wings. Reference numeral 24 a denotes a serrate fall-outpreventing portion formed on an inner surface of the locking portion 24so that it is inclined in an inserting direction. This makes it possibleto effectively prevent an attached winged needle from falling out.Reference numeral 25 shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 6denotes a slit formed in a peripheral wall adjacent to the insertionport 22 of the cylindrical body 21. Forming the slit 25 allows an endportion of the insertion port 22 to be resiliently spread so as topermit easy insertion of a proximal end 30 a of an injection needle 30regardless of the size of the injection needle. (See FIG. 8).

In an injection needle of an ordinary syringe, as shown in FIG. 6 andFIG. 7, a needle 30 b of the injection needle 30 is placed above theinsertion notch 23, and, in this state, the needle 30 b is moved in adirection at right angle to an axis of the injection needle 30 andinserted into the protecting cap 20 through the insertion notch 23. Theinjection needle 30 is further slid toward the distal end of theprotecting cap 20 (in a direction indicated by an arrow B of FIG. 7) andattached to the protecting cap 20.

In the case of a winged needle 33, the needle 33 b is inserted throughthe insertion notch 23 and slid forward to hold a wing portion 33 abetween a locking portion 24 and the peripheral wall 21 a of thecylindrical body 21, thereby setting the needle as shown in FIG. 9.

Thus, using the protecting cap 20 of the embodiment allows the injectionneedle 30 and the winged needle 33 to be attached to the protecting cap20 without considerably moving the needles 30 b and 33 b of the ordinaryinjection needle 30 and the winged needle 33 in directions of the axesthereof. Hence, the conventional accidental needle piercing of fingers,which are holding the cap, can be prevented.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the ordinary injection needle 30 attached tothe protecting cap 20. As illustrated in (a) of the drawing, even if theproximal end 30 a of the injection needle 30 is slightly larger, theslits 25 formed in the peripheral wall on the side of the insertion port22 of the cylindrical body 21 spread to adjust to it. Moreover, sincethe end surface 21 c of the insertion port 22 is shaped like a hook asillustrated in (b) of the drawing, the proximal end 30 a of theinjection needle 30 can be retained by the end surface 21 c to hold theinjection needle 30 so as to prevent the needle 30 from falling out.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a needledisposal instrument in accordance with the present invention, and FIG.11 is a perspective view showing the needle disposal instrument of FIG.10 in use. Both FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate a state wherein a coverfor preventing a protecting cap from falling out is open.

A needle disposal instrument 60 of this embodiment accommodates a needleprotecting cap having an insertion port at one end thereof and composedof a cylindrical body capable of holding an injection needle. In thisembodiment, descriptions will be given on an assumption that theprotecting cap 10 shown in FIG. 1 is accommodated. In the needledisposal instrument 60, an open/close cover 62 for preventing protectingcaps from falling out is installed to a case body 61 for holding theprotecting caps 10 in such a posture that allow the used injectionneedle 50 to be inserted through the insertion port 12 of the needleprotecting cap 10 as shown in FIG. 11.

The needle disposal instrument 60 is capable of holding ten protectingcaps 10. One end of the case body 61 is provided with a cylindrical bodyholding section 61 a for holding distal ends of the protecting caps 10,while the other end is provided with the open/close cover 62. In thisembodiment, the open/close cover 62 is a short cover that is sufficientfor covering the insertion port 12 to prevent the protecting caps fromfalling out. As an alternative, however, the cover may be formed so thatits covering portion extends to the insertion port 12 and a part of theinsertion notch 13 of the protecting cap 10.

The usage of the needle disposal instrument 60 will be described. Beforeuse, the needle disposal instrument 60 is in a state wherein theprotecting caps 10 have been accommodated in the case body 61, and theopen/close cover 62 is closed. When using the needle disposal instrument60, that is, when attaching an injection needle to the protecting cap10, the open/close cover 62 is opened, and the needle 50 b of theordinary injection needle 50 or the needle 51 b of the winged needle 51is attached to the protecting cap 10 according to the proceduredescribed in conjunction with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Upon completion of theattaching, the open/close cover 62 is closed. For attaching the nextinjection needle, the foregoing procedure is repeated. When all of theten protecting caps 10 are filled, the protecting caps 10 are taken outof the needle disposal instrument 60 and placed in another container.

Thus, the needle disposal instrument 60 of this embodiment is formed soas to hold the protecting caps 10 in such a posture that allows the usedinjection needles 50 or winged needles 51 to be inserted through theinsertion ports 12 of the needle protecting caps 10. Hence, theinjection needle 50 or the winged needle 51 can be attached to theneedle protecting cap 10 by holding the injection needle 50 or thewinged needle 51 by one hand, while holding the case body 61 of theneedle disposal instrument 60 by the other hand. Therefore, a distancebetween the injection needle 50 or the winged needle 51 and the fingersholding the case body 61 can be kept, making it possible to preventaccidental needle piercing.

In the above embodiment, the case body 61 is used by holding it by ahand. Alternatively, however, a stand may be provided for the case body61 to support itself on a table or the like. Providing the standeliminates chances of hands or fingers being positioned in front ofinjection needles or winged needles when attaching the injection needlesor the winged needles to the protecting caps, thus permitting accidentalneedle piercing to be prevented further securely.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the needledisposal instrument in accordance with the present invention, and FIG.13 is a perspective view showing the needle disposal instrument of FIG.12 in use.

A needle disposal instrument 70 of this embodiment accommodates a needleprotecting cap comprising a cylindrical body having an insertion port atone end thereof and capable of holding an injection needle. In thisembodiment, descriptions will be given on an assumption that theprotecting cap 20 shown in FIG. 6 is accommodated. The needle disposalinstrument 70 is equipped with a box-shaped case body 71, and athin-wall holding portion 72 which can be held by fingers is formed onthe case body 71 as shown in FIG. 12. Reference numeral 73 denotes aremoval port formed on the opposite side from the holding portion 72.From the removal port 73, the needle protecting caps 20 accommodated inthe case body 71 can be taken out one by one in sequence by an operationof a spring 75 provided adjacently to the holding portion 72 of the casebody 71.

Reference numeral 74 is an elastic return-proof portion which is formedon an upper part of the removal port 73. The portion 74 is elasticallydeformed toward the removal port 73 by an urging force of the spring 75to feed the needle protecting cap 20 into the removal port 73, and alsoprevents the needle protecting cap 20 which was fed into the removalport 73 from moving back. The spring 75 has a mounting shaft 75 a in acorner of the case body 71, and is urged toward the removal port 73.

In the needle disposal instrument 70 according to this embodiment, withthe protecting cap 20 held in the case body 71, an ordinary injectionneedle 30 or a winged needle 33 is attached to the protecting cap 20according to the procedure described above, and then only the protectingcap 20 to which the injection needle 30 or the winged needle 33 has beenattached can be removed from the case body 71. This causes theprotecting cap 20 held in the case body 71 to be pushed out into theremoval port 73 by the spring 75, permitting the next injection needle30 or the winged needle 33 to be attached in order. When all of theprotecting caps 20 accommodated in the case body 71 have been used, acover 70 a of the case body 70 is opened, and the protecting caps 20 aresupplied.

Thus, the needle disposal instrument 70 of this embodiment permitssuccessive use and also permits the injection needle 30 or the wingedneedle 33 to be attached to the protecting cap 20 while holding the casebody 71 or the holding portion 72 provided on the case body 71 by ahand. Hence, a distance between the injection needle 30 or the wingedneedle 33 and the fingers holding the case body 71 can be kept,contributing to the prevention of accidental needle piercing.

In the case of this embodiment, a stand may also be provided for thecase body 71 to support itself on a table or the like.

The present invention provides the following advantages:

(a) The peripheral wall, which includes the insertion port, of theneedle protecting cap formed of a cylindrical body having the insertionport on one end and capable of holding an injection needle is notchedlongitudinally from the side of the insertion port toward the distalend, and the slit for locking a winged needle is formed from the distalend of the notch toward the other end of the cylindrical body, or thelocking portion for locking the winged needle which is oriented towardthe insertion port is formed at the distal end of the notch. With thisarrangement, both ordinary injection needles and winged needles can beplaced in the protecting caps without largely moving the injectionneedles and the winged needles in their axial directions, thuspermitting prevention of accidental finger piercing with conventionalprotecting caps designed to be held by fingers.

(b) The slits that can be expanded in a direction in which the insertionport spreads are formed in the peripheral wall of the insertion port.With this arrangement, the end portion adjacent to the insertion portcan be elastically expanded, allowing the proximal end of a needle to beeasily inserted regardless of the size of the injection needle, and theneedle can be securely retained at the insertion port so that the needledoes not fall out.

(c) The ridge line of the peripheral wall which defines an outer edge ofthe notch provides the narrow portion at the insertion port, allowingthe needle to be securely retained at the cap insertion port so that theneedle does not fall out.

(d) The slits or the locking portions are provided with fall-outpreventing portions so that a winged needle can be effectively preventedfrom falling out after the needle has been attached.

(e) The notch and the slits at the insertion port, or the notch and thelocking portion at the insertion port, are formed by partly cutting thecylindrical body. This arrangement permits easy mass productionutilizing conventional products.

(f) The needle disposal instrument is provided with the case body thataccommodates a plurality of needle protecting caps, each of the needleprotecting caps being formed of the cylindrical body having an insertionport at one end thereof and capable of holding an injection needle, andholds the needle protecting caps in such a posture that used injectionneedles can be inserted from the insertion ports, and further providedwith the means for preventing the needle protecting caps attached to thecase body from falling out. By using this needle disposal instrument, aninjection needle or a winged needle can be attached to the needleprotecting cap by holding the injection needle or the winged needle byone hand, while holding the case body by the other hand. Therefore, adistance between the injection needle or the winged needle and thefingers holding the case body can be kept, making it possible to preventaccidental needle piercing.

(g) The open/close cover provided on the case body makes it possible toprevent the protecting caps from falling out and also to preventinjection needles attached to the protecting caps from falling out.

(h) The needle disposal instrument has a case body which maintains aposture of the accommodated needle protecting caps so that notches ofthe needle protecting caps are exposed for allowing used injectionneedles to be inserted and having a removal port through which theneedle protecting caps can be taken out one by one and urging means forurging the accommodated needle protecting caps toward the removal port.This arrangement permits successive use, and also enables an injectionneedle or a winged needle to be attached to the protecting cap whileholding the case body or the handle provided on the case body by a hand.Hence, the distance between the injection needle or the winged needleand the fingers holding the case body can be maintained, thuscontributing to prevention of the accidental needle piercing.

(i) The handle formed on the case body makes it easy to attach aninjection needle or a winged needle to the protecting cap.

(j) The stand provided to enable the case body to support itselfeliminates chances of hands or fingers being positioned in front ofinjection needles or winged needles when attaching the needles to theprotecting caps, thus permitting accidental needle piercing to beprevented further securely.

Industrial Applicability

As set forth above, the needle protecting cap in accordance with thepresent invention can be applied to winged injection needles in the samemanner as in ordinary injection needles, which has been impossible withconventional protecting caps. The needle disposal instrument is suitablyused for achieving efficient storage of protecting caps and efficientdisposal of a large quantity of injection needles at large hospitals orthe like where hundreds of injections are carried out daily.

What is claimed is:
 1. A needle disposal instrument comprising a casebody which accommodates a plurality of needle protecting caps, each ofthe needle protecting caps being formed of a cylindrical body having aninsertion port at one end thereof and capable of holding an injectionneedle, and holds the needle protecting caps in such a posture that usedneedles can be inserted from the insertion ports, and means forpreventing the needle protecting caps attached to the case body fromfalling out.
 2. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 1,wherein said means for preventing fall-out is an open/close cover fittedto the case body on a side of the insertion ports for the needleprotecting caps accommodated in the case body.
 3. A needle disposalinstrument according to claim 1, wherein said case body furthercomprises a handle.
 4. A needle disposal instrument according to claim1, further comprising a stand for the case body to support itself.
 5. Aneedle disposal instrument comprising a case body, a plurality of needleprotecting caps, each of the needle protecting caps being formed of acylindrical body having an insertion port at one end thereof and capableof holding an injection needle, said case body having accommodatingparts for receiving and accommodating the needle protecting caps on saidcase body in such a posture that a used needle can be inserted into eachneedle protection cap via the insertion port while the needle protectingcap is accommodated on said case body, and a preventing device movablymounted on said case body between an open position and a closedposition, said preventing device in said open position enabling saidaccommodating parts to receive said needle protecting caps, saidpreventing device in said closed position preventing the needleprotecting caps and the used needles from falling out of said case body.6. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 5, wherein saidneedle protecting caps have a longitudinally extending elongated notch,said case body having an open position exposing said notch to therebyenable insertion of said needle into said protecting cap by moving saidneedle laterally through said exposed notch.
 7. The needle disposalinstrument according to claim 5, wherein each of said needle protectingcaps comprises a peripheral wall inclusive of the insertion port beingcut from a side of the insertion port toward a distal end to form alongitudinal elongated notch, and a slit for locking a winged needleformed to extend from a distal end of the notch toward the other end ofthe cylindrical body, said slit being provided with a fallout preventingportion, said case body having an open portion exposing saidlongitudinally elongated notch to thereby enable insertion of said usedneedle into said needle protecting cap by moving said used needlelaterally through said exposed longitudinal elongated notch.
 8. Theneedle disposal instrument according to claim 5, wherein each of saidneedle protecting caps comprises a peripheral wall inclusive of theinsertion port being cut from a side of the insertion port toward adistal end to form a longitudinal elongated notch, and a locking portionfor locking a winged needle which is oriented toward the insertion portbeing formed at a distal end of the notch, said case body having an openportion exposing said longitudinal elongated notch to thereby enableinsertion of said used needle into said needle protecting cap by movingsaid used needle laterally through said exposed longitudinal elongatednotch.
 9. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 5 comprising apivot movement for pivotably mounting said preventing device formovement between said open and closed positions.
 10. A needle disposalinstrument according to claim 5 wherein said preventing device isdisposed in superimposed relationship with said needle protection capsand with said used needles when said preventing device is in said closedposition.
 11. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 10 whereinsaid preventing device is displaced from being in superimposedrelationship with said needle protection caps and with saidaccommodating parts when said preventing device is in said openposition.
 12. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 5 whereinsaid preventing device includes a generally flat member free ofapertures which is disposed in a first orientation when said preventiondevice is in said closed position, said flat member when in said firstorientation generally overlying said needle protection caps and saidused needles.
 13. A needle disposal instrument according to claim 12wherein said flat member is disposed in a second orientation when saidprevention device is in said open position, said flat member when insaid second orientation being displaced from overlying said needleprotection caps and said used needles.
 14. A needle disposal instrumentaccording to claim 13 wherein said first orientation of the flat memberis generally perpendicular to the second orientation of the flat member.